Police: Recruitment

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: To Ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact on applicants from disadvantaged backgrounds of the Metropolitan Police's proposal to recruit trainees from its pool of special constables and Community Support Officers.

Baroness Neville-Jones: This is a matter for the Metropolitan Police Service.

Algeria

Baroness Whitaker: To Ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the Government of Algeria regarding the kidnapping and arrest of Mustapha Salma Ould Sidi Mouloud on 21 September when he returned from Morocco to his family near Tindouf.

Lord Howell of Guildford: We have been monitoring the situation closely from both Algeria and Morocco and will continue to do so following the announcement by the Polisario that Mustapha Salma Ould Sidi Mouloud was released on 6 October 2010.

Armed Forces: Medical Discharge

Lord Morris of Manchester: To Ask Her Majesty's Government how many United Kingdom Service men and women have been medically discharged as a result of service in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Lord Astor of Hever: All medical discharges from the Armed Forces are considered on a case by case basis. The Armed Forces have always looked for opportunities to retain injured personnel where they can continue to be usefully employed in areas that they find fulfilling and this continues to be the case. Where this is not possible, the driving imperative is to deliver the best appropriate care and information to ensure that injured personnel make the transition to civilian life smoothly.
	The following table presents the number of UK regular naval service, Army and RAF personnel medically discharged who have been identified as having been deployed to either Afghanistan and/or Iraq, although the reason for discharge is not necessarily due to injury in either of those theatres.
	Medical boards recommend medical discharges but do not attribute the principal disability leading to the board to service or deployment. A medical board could take place many months or even years after an event or injury and it is not clinically possible in some cases to link an earlier injury to a later problem which may lead to a discharge. Decisions on attributability to service are made by the Service Personnel and Veterans' Agency.
	The processes for administering a medical discharge differ between the three services and as a consequence the numbers have been presented by service rather than annual tri-service totals.
	
		
			 Service All Afghanistan2 only Iraq3 only Iraq and Afghanistan 
			 Naval Service1 
			 Male 409 74 281 54 
			 Female 52 ~ ~ ~ 
			 Army 
			 Male 946 117 756 73 
			 Female 83 ~ 70 ~ 
			 RAF 
			 Male 248 13 198  
			 Female 38 0 ~ 37 
		
	
	1 Includes Royal Navy and Royal Marines
	2 Afghanistan (Op VERITAS October 2001-March 2006, Op HERRICK April 2006-December 2009)
	3 Iraq (Op TELIC January 2003-July 2009)
	Numbers smaller than five have been suppressed, in line with Office for National Statistics guidelines. Suppressed numbers are represented as ~; where there is only one number smaller than five in any row or column the next smallest number has also been suppressed.

Armed Forces: Recuperation

Lord Selkirk of Douglas: To Ask Her Majesty's Government what was the total capital investment in the Headley Court Rehabilitation Unit for each year since its inception along with the overall total; what percentage of that capital investment was attributable to public funds; and what is that figure recuperation.

Lord Astor of Hever: The following table shows the capital expenditure for the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre (DMRC) Headley Court by financial year since 2006, giving an overall total of £19.6 million. The percentage of capital expenditure attributed to public funds was 59.2 per cent (£11.6 million).
	
		
			  FY2006-07  £ Million FY2007-08  £ Million FY2008-09  £ Million FY2009-10  £ Million FY2010-11  £ Million TOTAL  £ Million Public Funds  £ Million 
			 Total 1.7 1 4.8 11.7 0.4 19.6 11.6 
		
	
	The financial data prior to financial year 2006-07 are not held in a readily accessible format and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Banking: Bonuses

Lord Myners: To Ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Lord Sassoon on 6 October that the Government had "unfinished business" in respect of bankers' bonuses, when they will detail their further proposals.

Lord Sassoon: Remuneration measures are kept under continuing review. In the June Budget, the Government announced that action would be taken to tackle unacceptable bonuses. The Government have established an Independent Commission on Banking to look at measures to reform the banking system and promote competition. In addition to the banking levy, the Government will consult on a remuneration disclosure regime and is working with international partners to explore the costs and benefits of a financial activities tax. The Financial Services Authority is consulting on the implementation of the Capital Requirements Directive (CRD3) remuneration provisions and, at the request of the Government, is considering measures in its review of the remuneration code. The impact of these measures will be reinforced by the capital and liquidity requirements arising from agreement in the Basel Committee.

Banking: Iceland

Lord Myners: To Ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made in securing agreement with the Government of Iceland in relation to (a) its liability to make repayment of loans to the United Kingdom, (b) the terms of that repayment, and (c) the repayment of interest at market rates on amounts outstanding.

Lord Sassoon: The Government have continued the discussions with Iceland undertaken by the previous Government, to agree a process for Iceland to repay the loan provided by the UK to fund compensation payments to UK depositors of Icesave on behalf of Iceland's Depositors' and Inventors' Guarantee Fund. Announcements will be made in due course.

Charity Commission

Lord Myners: To Ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Charity Commission is investigating the activities of the Atlantic Bridge and its compliance with charity legislation.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Charity Commission. I have asked the commission to reply.
	Letter from Sam Younger, Chief Executive, Charity Commission, to Lord Myners dated 13 October 2010.
	As the Chief Executive of the Charity Commission, I have been asked to respond to your written Parliamentary Question on whether the Charity Commission is investigating the activities of the Atlantic Bridge and its compliance with charity legislation.
	The Atlantic Bridge Education and Research Scheme ("the Charity") is a registered charity (number 1099513). Last year the Charity Commission, as the independent regulator of charities, received a complaint from a member of the public that the Charity appeared to be a party political organisation and that consequently its objects are not charitable as defined by law. We opened a regulatory compliance case in August 2009 and concluded our substantive investigations in July 2010. Having regard to the principles of best regulatory practice, we decided to publish a Regulatory Case Report on our investigation, and this was published on 26 July 2010. The report remains publicly available on our website (at www.charitycommission.gov.uk), and I will arrange for a copy to be placed in the House of Lords Library.
	For ease of reference, our conclusions as set out in the report were that:
	the Atlantic Bridge Education and Research Scheme is established as a charity with exclusively charitable purposes and is capable of operating for the public benefit;the educational objects of the Charity have not been advanced by its activities because these activities promote a particular point of view which is not uncontroversial, and are consequently not educational. In addition the results and findings of the work of the Charity have not been sufficiently disseminated to the public. The activities of the Charity have not furthered any of its other charitable purposes in any way; andthe activities of the Charity may lead members of the public to call into question its independence from party politics. The promotion of the Special Relationship is not the purpose of this Charity, nor can it be. The Commission has made clear to the trustees their legal and regulatory responsibilities and that the Charity's current activities must cease immediately.
	As a result of the Commission's intervention the trustees of the Charity have committed to undertake a review over the next twelve months to include:
	the activities of the Charity to ensure that they are compatible with and capable of furthering its charitable objects-as written in its governing document-for the public benefit;ensuring that decisions to undertake activities are made from the starting point of considering how best to further one or more of the Charity's objects for the public benefit as set out in its trust deed;the content of the Charity's website-in particular how the Charity explains its aims and purpose, whether its content is politically neutral and giving greater clarity between the Charity's website and that of Atlantic Bridge Inc;the maintenance of proper records regarding trustee decision-making; andregular risk assessments in relation to the Charity's activities and records steps taken to mitigate these.
	We have requested that the trustees report on the outcome of the review within two months of its completion.
	I hope this is helpful.

Courts: Fines

Lord Corbett of Castle Vale: To Ask Her Majesty's Government what was the total amount of unpaid court fines in England and Wales in each year from 2005 to 2009.

Lord McNally: The amount of financial penalties outstanding at the end of each of the past five years is as follows:
	2005-06-£474,292,175;2006-07-£486,597,240; 2007-08-£500,630,569; 2008-09-£544,890,624; and 2009-10-£588,475,303
	The amount outstanding can relate to fines imposed in that year or any previous year as fines are not always paid in the period which they are imposed and includes fines which are being paid in accordance with payment plans and the outstanding balance is therefore not all in arrears.

Courts: Fines

Lord Corbett of Castle Vale: To Ask Her Majesty's Government how many people were sent to prison in England and Wales for the non-payment of court fines in each year from 2005 to 2009.

Lord McNally: Figures showing the numbers of prisoners received into all prison establishments in England and Wales from 2005 to 2009 (latest year for which data are available) are shown in the following table:
	
		
			 Fine defaulter receptions into prison establishments in England and Wales 2005 to 2009 
			 2005 2,038 
			 2006 1,904 
			 2007 1,475 
			 2008 1,528 
			 2009 1,343 
		
	
	Offenders may be committed to prison for fine default but their sentence remains a fine.
	These figures are taken from table 6.1 in the Ministry of Justice Statistics bulletin Offender Management Caseload Statistics 2009.
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large-scale recording system, are subject to possible error entry and processing.

Employment

Viscount Clancarty: To Ask Her Majesty's Government whether there has been a fall in the number of creative workers visiting the United Kingdom since December 2005; and what is their assessment of the reasons for any change.

Baroness Rawlings: The number of visas issued under the endorsements of artist, composer and writer, recorded by the UK Border Agency (UKBA), from 2005 to 2008 are in the table.
	
		
			 Year Artists Composers Writers 
			 2005 76 16 26 
			 2006 75 14 33 
			 2007 132 16 19 
			 2008 59 4 5 
		
	
	Since November 2008 visitor numbers to the United Kingdom for creative and sporting work have been recorded together, and it is not possible to disaggregate creative workers specifically.
	The Government recognise the importance of visiting creative workers, who make a huge contribution to the cultural and economic wealth of the country. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport and UKBA continue to work closely with representatives of the sector.

Energy: Nuclear Industry

Lord Corbett of Castle Vale: To Ask Her Majesty's Government what is their response to the strategic recommendations contained in the report by the Cogent Sector Skills Council to close the potential skills gap in the nuclear industry.

Lord Marland: The Government recognise that there is a challenge in ensuring that the UK has enough skilled workers to maintain and decommission existing nuclear power stations as well as building new ones. Officials work closely with Skills Bodies (including Cogent) and industry to ensure that the skills gap is addressed. Government endorsed the recommendations from the "Next Generation: Skills for New Build Nuclear" report and officials sit on the Nuclear Energy Skills Alliance (along with other key skills stakeholders) that acted as the Steering Group for the report. The department also provides the Secretariat for the Nuclear Energy Skills Alliance which continues to meet on a quarterly basis to ensure that the recommendations are acted on and are updated as we move forwards. The National Skills Academy for Nuclear leads the work of the skills alliance and is playing a critical role in driving up employer investment in skills in the sector, and approving training providers to plug any emerging skills gaps.
	The National Skills Academy for Nuclear is an employer-led organisation and works to ensure that the UK nuclear industry and its supply chain has the skilled, competent and safe workforce it needs to deal with the current and future UK nuclear programme. It has a central position in raising quality standards via both its high quality provider network and the nuclear skills passport system, which is to be rolled out across the nuclear industry later this year. The skills academy has developed a number of skills initiatives including the award for nuclear industry awareness and a foundation degree in engineering (nuclear). They will be shortly be launching the triple bar standard, which is a set of three industry-wide standards to provide people who are embarking on a career in the nuclear sector with a foundation level of understanding of the industry and its specific requirements. At the higher skills level, the skills academy is currently launching a pilot of the certificate of nuclear professionalism which is a postgraduate qualification supporting continued professional development of existing and new members of the UK nuclear industry workforce.

EU: Borrowing

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: To Ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the proposal by the President of the European Council that sanctions against member states which exceed borrowing limits by the European Commission should have automatic application without the specific approval of the European Council.

Lord Howell of Guildford: Article 126 (11) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union specifies that euro area member states in the Council of Ministers may impose sanctions upon a euro area member state in excessive deficit that has failed to comply with the council's recommendations. However this does not apply to the UK as we are not members of the single currency. Moreover, the UK's treaty protocol explicitly states that sanctions under the stability and growth pact cannot be applied to the UK.
	Additional measures to strengthen the economic governance of the European Union are currently the subject of discussions by a taskforce, on which my right honourable friend the Chancellor represents the UK, set up at the request of the European Council and led by its President, Herman van Rompuy. The Government believe that, in line with current treaty provisions, Council should continue to play a role in deciding what sanctions to apply to member states that have breached their obligations under the stability and growth pact.
	The taskforce continues to discuss these issues and will present its final report to the October European Council.

EU: Expansion

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: To Ask Her Majesty's Government , further to the Written Answer by Lord Astor of Hever on 27 September (WA 409), why, in the light of Article 49 of the Treaty on European Union, they are actively promoting the admission of Turkey to the European Union.

Lord Howell of Guildford: Article 49 of the Treaty on the European Union states that "any European State which respects the values referred to in Article 2 and is committed to promoting them may apply to become a member of the Union". In October 2005 the European Council unanimously agreed to open EU accession negotiations with Turkey. The Government support accession negotiations with Turkey.

EU-Israel Association Agreement

Baroness Tonge: To Ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the European Union concerning Israel's compliance with the conditions of the European Union-Israel Association Agreement relating to Human Rights and International Law.

Lord Howell of Guildford: The UK has regular discussions with its EU partners on a number of issues related to the Middle East peace process including the EU-Israel Association Agreement.
	The UK has worked hard, with support from other member states, to ensure that the EU has regular discussions about human rights in Israel. This is in line with the human rights elements of the EU-Israel Association Agreement.

Exports: High Technology

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To Ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have a strategy to make the United Kingdom a leading high-tech exporter.

Baroness Wilcox: The coalition agreement makes it clear that we are committed to working with universities, research councils and business to enhance the effectiveness of the innovation system to support successful UK innovation. We are considering the recommendations of Sir James Dyson's report, Ingenious Britain, including refocusing the R&D tax credit on high tech, small firms and start-ups and will consult with business in the autumn.
	We will issue a new cross-government innovation strategy in spring 2011 that will focus on supporting innovation activity across all the important sectors of the UK and with those that offer the greatest scope for boosting UK growth and productivity.
	UK Trade & Investment will also set out the Government's approach to growing high-tech exports when it published its strategy in 2011.

Financial Services: Equities

Lord Myners: To Ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the contribution of high-frequency trading to disorderly, misleading and unsafe markets; and what steps, if any, have been taken to stop the practice of "quote stuffing" used by high-frequency algorithmic traders in United Kingdom equity markets.

Lord Sassoon: I refer the noble Lord to my Answer dated 16 June (WA115). Formal proposals for the revised markets in financial instruments directive are expected to be published by the Commission in early 2011.

Fluoridation

Lord Colwyn: To Ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether consuming fluoridated water affects children's IQ.

Earl Howe: We are not aware of any robust evidence of a detrimental effect on children's IQ from water in which the fluoride content has been adjusted to the one-part-per-million level used in fluoridation schemes in England.

Government Departments: Salaries

Lord Newby: To Ask Her Majesty's Government what number and percentage of Department for Energy and Climate Change staff have received or are due to receive increments in pay in the year ended 5 April 2011; and what is the estimated percentage and money increase in the department's pay bill due solely to increments this year, disregarding promotions or general increases in pay scales.

Lord Marland: The 2010 DECC pay award will be determined in line with the 2010 HM Treasury Pay Remit Guidance and has not been implemented yet.
	For 2010-11 all DECC employees other than those earning less than £21,250 (full-time equivalent earnings) are subject to a pay freeze.
	Forty-five staff (4.13 per cent of employees) earning under £21,250 will be eligible for a consolidated salary increase and we estimate that the increase to the paybill will be around £25,000 or 0.05 per cent.
	This response covers the Department of Energy and Climate Change staff.

Health: Dangerous Pathogens

Lord Laird: To Ask Her Majesty's Government what are the annual running costs of the Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens and the Advisory Committee on Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infections; how many staff are attached to them; and whether they are classified as quangos.

Earl Howe: Both the Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens (ACDP) and the Advisory Committee on Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infections are currently constituted as expert advisory non-departmental public bodies. There are no staff employed solely for these committees by the department, although staff do attend meetings and ensure appropriate governance as part of their wider departmental duties.
	Secretariat functions for both committees are provided by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) on behalf of the department. The HPA has provided the following breakdown of costs of its secretariat staff for each committee and the expenses incurred on meetings and members' travel and subsistence costs. The department separately meets the costs associated with member appointments and reappointments by the Appointments Commission. The ACDP secretariat is additionally supported by the Health and Safety Executive and by the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs. The cost of this support is not readily identifiable as it is part of the wider duties of those staff.
	
		
			  2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 
			 Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens (ACDP) 
			 Staff costs 41,457 42,493 43,343 
			 Committee running costs 5,488 4,917 5,000 
			 Total 46,945 47,410 48,343 
			 Advisory Committee on Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infection (ARHAI) 
			 Staff costs 53,984 55,333 56,440 
			 Committee running costs 9,355 19,872 20,679 
			 Total 63,339 75,205 77,119

House of Commons: September Sitting

Lord Grocott: To Ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Strathclyde on 27 September (WA 541), whether they made an estimate of the cost implications before deciding to recall the House of Commons for two additional weeks in September.

Lord Strathclyde: The sitting of the House of Commons in September was not a recall. The House of Commons resolved on 15 June that the Government should bring forward proposals for a sitting in September, following the recommendation of the Select Committee on Reform of the House of Commons that the House should be asked to decide on the issue of September sittings early in the new Parliament. The Government brought forward a Motion to provide for a September sitting, which the House of Commons agreed to on 15 July. Expenditure associated with the September sitting of the House of Commons was overseen by the House of Commons Commission, which will have incurred such expenditure on behalf of the House.

Houses of Parliament: Electric Cars

Lord Myners: To ask the Chairman of Committees whether there any plans to install charging points for electric cars on the parliamentary estate.

Lord Brabazon of Tara: Charging points for electric cars have been installed on the parliamentary estate for use by government cars only, on a trial basis. Each government car has a unique key, which allows the correct department to be charged for electricity used. There are no plans at present to introduce charging facilities for private cars.

Israel

Baroness Tonge: To Ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the Government of Israel concerning allegations of a 60 per cent increase in the number of children detained in Israeli prisons in September.

Lord Howell of Guildford: According to the non-governmental organisation Defence for Children International, in September 2010 there were 269 children in Israeli detention compared to 318 in January 2010.
	However, the UK is concerned by reports with the number of children who have been detained without trial. We have called on the Israeli Government to take immediate action to ensure all cases are reviewed by a court in accordance with fair procedures, and that human rights and international law is upheld.

Israel

Baroness Tonge: To Ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the Government of Israel concerning alleged beatings, threats of rape and electric shocks being given to children under the age of 15 years whilst detained in Israeli prisons.

Lord Howell of Guildford: The UK is concerned by reports of alleged torture and abuse of Palestinian children held in detention by Israel. We have called on the Israeli Government to take immediate action to ensure all cases are reviewed by a court in accordance with fair procedures, and that human rights and international law is upheld.

Israel

Baroness Tonge: To Ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with other European Union member states about the treatment of children in Israeli prisons.

Lord Howell of Guildford: The UK is concerned by reports of alleged torture and abuse of Palestinian children held in detention by Israel. We have called on the Israeli Government to take immediate action to ensure all cases are reviewed by a court in accordance with fair procedures, and that human rights and international law is upheld.
	The EU has regular meetings to discuss human rights concerns in Israel which includes the mistreatment of prisoners.

NHS: Interpreters

Lord Palmer: To Ask Her Majesty's Government what is the cost to the National Health Service of providing interpreters' services in order that patients can express their symptoms clearly.

Earl Howe: The provision of interpretation and translation services is a matter for local determination. National Health Service bodies are not required to report their planned or actual spending on interpretation and translation services to the department. When planning such services, NHS bodies should take due account of their legal duties, the composition of the communities they serve, and the needs and circumstances of their patients, service users and local populations.

NHS: Primary Care Trusts

Lord Clement-Jones: To Ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they will take to ensure that where the preparations for the abolition of primary care trusts involve the disposal of assets the value of assets will be protected.

Earl Howe: The department is currently examining the implications for the management and ownership of the estate following the dissolution of primary care trusts in 2013. An option appraisal of the various alternatives is being undertaken before making recommendations to Ministers. The outcome of this process will be announced shortly.
	The current rules governing the sale of National Health Service assets will continue to apply. These should ensure that surplus assets are sold at the best price reasonably obtainable in the market.

Population

Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay: To Ask Her Majesty's Government what percentage of the total population in (a) Kensington and Chelsea, and (b) Glasgow, was aged (1) 60-79, and (2) 80 and over, in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Stephen Penneck, Director General for ONS, to Lord Oakeshott dated October 2010.
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your question asking what percentage of the total population in (a) Kensington and Chelsea, and (b) Glasgow, was aged (1) 60-79, and (2) 80 and over, in the most recent year for which figures are available (HL2742).
	The table shows the requested information for mid-2009 the latest period available.
	
		
			 Percentage of total population, mid-2009 
			  Percentage aged 60-79 Percentage aged  80 and over 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 15.1 4.2 
			 Glasgow 14.7 3.7 
		
	
	Source Office for National Statistics and General Register Office for Scotland
	Background Notes:
	1. Mid-2009 population estimates for the UK were published on 24 June 2010 and are the latest available. The estimates are available at http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Product.asp?vlnk=601

Prisoners

Lord Avebury: To Ask Her Majesty's Government what impact the core day and core week arrangements have had on prisoners' access to (a) work, (b) education, (c) training, and (d) religious activities; and what reductions there have been in the cumulative time spent in prison by professional visitors providing religious and education activities.

Lord McNally: The implementation of a standard core day (SCD) was agreed for most public sector prisons in England and Wales and implementation started in June 2008.
	The SCD was implemented in an organised and co-ordinated way across a large number of prisons without increasing overall levels of disorder or significantly impacting on activity levels in the majority of prisons. For example, teaching and other learner contact is accommodated within the remaining four and a half days available.
	There are no ongoing central recording of time spent in prison by professional visitors providing religious and education activities, although a review of data collected three months either side of the SCD implementation date reported that 46 prisons had experienced a lower number of visits by chaplaincy volunteers-23 reported a higher number and nine reported no change-an overall decrease of 6 per cent in the total number of visits. The reduced level of visits may be directly attributable to prisons being unable to rearrange visits or volunteers being unable to change their visiting days.
	Seasonal variations may also have impacted.
	Table I shows the levels of purposeful activity achieved before and after implementation of the SCD.
	
		
			 Table 1-Purposeful Activity 
			  Average hours per prisoner per week 
			 Financial Year Religious activities Education Training Work 
			 2007-08 0.65 6.52 1.16 12.57 
			 2008-09 0.65 6.51 1.24 12.14 
			 2009-10 0.63 6.44 1.31 11.80 
			 2010-11 Aug YTD 0.62 6.40 1.30 11.96

Schools: Meals

Lord Teverson: To Ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will review the recent changes to school meal regulations that require the overall food offer in a school to be nutritionally balanced; and in particular whether there has been a consequential impact on school menus with regard to variety and seasonality of food, as well as on the range of suppliers providing ingredients.

Lord Hill of Oareford: The Coalition Government are currently considering whether a review of the standards set by the school food regulations is required. The School Food Trust advises that the very nature of the nutrient based standards encourages schools to put a wider variety of food into their lunch menu cycles. The requirement to serve a portion of fruit and a portion of vegetables or salad every day is encouraging schools to serve more seasonal products. Information on the range of suppliers of school food is not collected, but we are aware that there is a wide variety of suppliers available.

Treasure

Lord Renfrew of Kaimsthorn: To Ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will review the definition of "treasure" so that major heritage discoveries, such as the Roman parade helmet found at Crosby Garrett and recently sold by public auction, should fall within the scope of the Treasure Act.

Baroness Rawlings: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport plans to review the Treasure Act Code of Practice and this will include the definition of Treasure contained in the Treasure Act 1996. This review will take the form of a public consultation and so will provide the opportunity to consider whether it would be appropriate to extend the definition of treasure to include items such as the Roman parade helmet found at Crosby Garrett.